Free community alpha · Test, propose, compare, improve
Build the game with us.
This is a playable discussion kit, not a final design. Use the current four-player rulebook as the common baseline, then try and document alternatives. Every proposed change can be tested and considered; none becomes canon automatically. Participation, feedback and access to the kit are free.
Start with what you have
Gather four people, a printed or hand-drawn cross-board, 64 labeled paper tokens or existing chess pieces, and a pencil. Three players control Mortal factions; one controls Rebirth. Take turns clockwise. No kit purchase, subscription, application or invitation is required.
Separate baseline from experiments. Record the starting rules and each proposed variation before testing. Keep a baseline round for comparison when possible.
Printable 14×14 cross-board
Four 3×3 corners are removed. The remaining 160 squares form the standard four-player chess cross. The center is a shared 2×2 area. This is a blank board: starting-arm assignment and placement presentation remain available for playtest proposals; use the rulebook's four-player setup and record any ambiguity.
For screen-reader users: draw a 14-row by 14-column grid; omit the first and last three columns in the first and last three rows. Mark columns A–N and rows 1–14 on your paper. A tactile board or raised boundaries may be substituted.
Cut-out piece labels · 64 pieces
Each Mortal army: Leader (L), Queen (Q), two Rooks (R), two Bishops (B), two Knights (N), eight Pawns (P). Rebirth army: Leader (L), Rebirth (RB), Death (D), one Rook (R), two Bishops (B), two Knights (N), eight Pawns (P). Cut out the labels or mark household tokens. Letters and faction numbers distinguish pieces without color.
Quick rules reference · baseline only
- Set up: each army occupies one arm of the cross. Rebirth takes its army's queen square; Death takes one of its rook squares, chosen by the Rebirth player.
- Turn: at the start, clear Veiled from the current player's pieces. Rebirth may spend a Boon Token to disable the aura for a full turn cycle. Move one piece or, on Rebirth's turn, sacrifice an eligible friendly piece for one Boon Token.
- Rebirth: moves like a queen. Its Radius of Ruin covers its square and eight neighboring squares. Apply Veiled status at the rulebook's resolution timing; friendly pieces adjacent to Death have Sanctuary.
- Veiled: move exactly one square forward, cannot capture, lose special movement; effect ends at the start of the affected owner's next turn. This is not a fixed two-turn timer.
- Death: moves like a king, cannot be captured, blocks enemy moves; friendly pieces may pass through but not land on Death.
- Soul Reservoir: every three friendly pieces in the Graveyard unlock Rebirth Dash, allowing passage through occupied squares but no landing on one.
- Victory: Rebirth wins at 10 Leadership Points from qualifying Withdrawal, Shielding or Coexistence maneuvers (Coexistence max 1 LP per turn). Mortal factions collectively win if Rebirth Veils five of its own friendly pieces cumulatively. Checkmated Leaders are eliminated; their pieces remain neutral obstacles.
Unresolved: Rebirth immunity. The current four-player rulebook states that Rebirth herself is immune to Veiled. Duet's alternative loss-of-control behavior is experimental, not canonical. Test alternatives if desired, but mark them as proposals and do not silently rewrite the baseline.
For complete movement, edge cases and victory definitions, consult the rulebook and continuity policy.
Record the game
Leadership Points (circle one):
Friendly Veil incidents (circle one): 0 · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5
Boon Tokens earned ______ spent ______ Graveyard count ______
Turn ______ Current faction ______ Outcome ______
Ambiguous position / action / rule _______________________________________
Playtest → proposal → evidence → decision
The goal is a lasting, player-shaped game community. Your observations and experiments can help guide future design, including a community-centered revival ambition inspired by Paragon Reborn, without claiming affiliation or adopting its intellectual property.
Experiment record
Experiment name / optional alias _______________________________________
Baseline rule or design question ________________________________________
What we changed (experimental, not canon) _______________________________
Why this might improve play / accessibility ______________________________
Number of games / turns / observed result _______________________________
Trade-offs or unexpected consequences __________________________________
Would we repeat the test? What next? ____________________________________
Play experience
Time to set up ______ Time played ______
Fun / frustration __________________________________
Clarity / fairness __________________________________
Access and craft
Visibility / reach / handling ________________________
Assistive adaptation tested _________________________
Physical piece or board idea ________________________
How input is handled: submit a reproducible GitHub issue with the rule reference, proposal, test method and outcome. Maintainers can link discussions, compare evidence and record whether an idea remains experimental, is revised, or is explicitly promoted into canon. Feedback does not automatically change rules, grant governance votes or promise compensation. Attribution and rights require consent and applicable project terms.
Do not publish teammates' personal information, medical details, private messages or identifiable photographs without permission. Brand-specific variants, including Pennywise-themed concepts, require appropriate rights clearance before commercial use.